The Vancouver Whitecaps have yet to kick a ball in MLS play, but the 2011 expansion club is already first overall the MLS business world.

MLS commissioner Don Garber revealed Monday the total value of Whitecaps sponsorships signed so far outpaces every other franchise in the league.

"They are the leading sponsorship team in all of Major League Soccer," Garber said. "Even with Los Angeles and its stadium and David Beckham, the largest sponsorship base is here in Vancouver."

The Whitecaps signed a lucrative jersey sponsorship deal with Bell last summer and have since inked deals with BMO, EA Sports and Labatt, reports Bruce Constantineau. Garber said the Bell sponsorship is one of the richest sports sponsorship deals in North America -- worth "many millions of dollars a year."